Friday, September 25, 2009
Hello Folks,
As some of you may know I studied Toaist Tai Chi and Shotokan karate. One of the reasons I was so drawn to the martial arts was because of the combination of physical and spiritual practices in one. I really felt there were spiritual benefits to practicing either one or both art forms.
I also found myself watching and reading about Shaolin Monks. The thing about the Shaolin Monks is their strength, flexibility, concentration and skills bordering on mystical.
I think Tai Chi and Shaolin forms are very similar with similar goals and perhaps come from the same root. Since I strongly believe that body awareness and skill can lead to soul awareness, it makes sense that I am attracted to Shaolin Monks.
What is history behind the Shaolin training?
- Buddhist priest from India called Bodhidharma came to see the emperor of China
- Buddhism was already established and Sanskrit texts were being translated into Chinese
- Bodhidharma (Tamo in Chinese) was initially refused to enter the Buddhist Temple
- Bodhidharma meditated in nearby cave and received attention from the shaolin monks because he bored a hole in one side of the cave with his eyes
- When Bodhidharma was allowed to enter the temple he notice that they all were out of shape (of course he had been walking a great distance to get to China, so clearly he was in better shape)
- He noticed they had very little energy and spent most of their days hunched over texts
- Bodhidharma taught them exercises that would help chi energy flow and strengthen them
- Thought to have been modified from yoga and based on the 18 animal movements
- Shaolin borrowed from Buddhism as well as Taoism for its philosophy
Here is a very intense shaolin video:
This video is a fascinating look at what can be achieved with years of Shaolin training. It is really interesting to think about what one is capable of with training and dedication to the physical and spiritual arts...
Kind of makes your head spin, doesn’t it?
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaolin
http://www.thomasrichardsonmusic.com/content/kung-fu-shaolin-sage-sayings
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shotokan
http://ithaca.newyork.usa.taoist.org/
http://www.shaolin.com/historycontent.aspx
Until next time…
Think, Believe, Act, Adjust, Never Give up
Dakota
Today’s Mantra:
Disciple Caine: Master our bodies are prey to many needs: hunger, thirst, the need for love. Shall we then seek to satisfy these needs?
Master Kan: Only Acknowledge them and satisfaction will follow. To suppress a truth is to give it force beyond endurance.
-- Episode No. 1 Kung Fu TV series
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